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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Michael S Smith" (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:50:41 +0300
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY

Attention: Sir,
This is to inform about a meeting conducted with UNITED NATIONS
secretary-General In Affiliation with World Bank concerning all the people
that lost money during international transaction from differences countries
as a whole with individuals and organizations that needs financial support,
This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their
contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or
international businesses that failed due to Government problems, or much
unnecessary demand by their coordinators etc.
The UNITED NATIONS in Affiliation with WORLD BANK has find out this issue
and agreed to compensate each person involved as a Globe Foundation Welfare
Support with the sum of 3,5Million Euros, and your name with email contact
was found in the list of those who are to benefit from these compensation
exercise and that is why we are contacting you,
This is to inform you that all modalittes has been put in place for the
onward releasd and transfer of your funds through BANCO UNIVERSAL MADRID SPAIN,note that
you will be required to travel to MADRID SPAIN to meet with the
officials for the processing of the release and transfer of your funds.
kindly contact me immediately for more details.
Best Regards.

Mr.Michael Starmer Smith

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